• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
SuccessElon Musk

‘She will only ever be the Twitter COO for Musk, at worst, his Executive PA’: How much authority will Twitter’s new CEO actually have?

Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 12, 2023, 11:42 AM ET
Linda Yaccarino speaks at an event.
Linda Yaccarino is reportedly Musk’s successor. But will she be any more than only a CEO in name? Slaven Vlasic—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

At the end of last year, Elon Musk announced he would be stepping down from Twitter’s helm as soon he found someone “foolish enough to take the job.”

Recommended Video

It seems that “foolish” someone has now been found as Musk announced he will be replaced as CEO in just six weeks, on Twitter of course. 

“Excited to announce that I’ve a new CEO for X/Twitter,” he tweeted on Thursday. “She will be starting in ~6 weeks! My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software and sysops.” 

The Twitter owner did not reveal the identity of the person; however, multiple media reports point to NBC Universal’s chairman of global advertising and partnerships Linda Yaccarino as Musk’s successor. 

Yaccarino quit her job at NBC today.

Musk has said for months that he did not plan to remain in the CEO role for the long term—his other ventures, including electric car company Tesla and rocket company SpaceX, need his attention too—but it’s clear from his recent announcement that Musk doesn’t want to sit on Twitter’s back bench with his new role as chair and CTO.

Whoever Musk’s replacement is, experts tell Fortune she’ll have her work cut out with him hovering on the sidelines and impacting how much change she can actually implement on Twitter 3.0. 

It’s worked out in the past

It’s not uncommon for a founding chief executive to step aside after successfully building a product so that a more effective leader can manage the organization’s day-to-day operations.

Having remodeled Twitter, you could argue, Musk is simply following in the footsteps of Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, et al. 

“It’s a smart move from an owner in this space because effectively a CEO’s role is about leading an organization, leading a company and a culture, and sometimes the best people to do that are not the people who founded the business or own the business,” insists business performance and leadership coach Danny Wicks.

Despite not having founded Twitter, Musk is primally a “product guy,” and so having someone else run the business, shape its culture, and face shareholders leaves Musk free to do what he does best.

“Can that become a challenge when the predecessor won’t go, yes, absolutely,” says Wicks, “but if you create the right boundaries and you create the right structure in which you operate then there’s no reason why it can’t work.” 

The buck stops with Musk

Businesses can benefit from retaining their former chief executives—and with it their knowledge, experience, network, and reputation. But for a new CEO, that can be stifling. 

“Research finds that a former CEO’s continuing presence in the board—and particularly as chairman—suppresses the new CEO’s ability to implement strategic change and, ultimately, deliver performance that deviates from the levels of the predecessor,” cautions Dr. Moritz Appels, assistant professor of organizational behavior at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

“While a CEO can wield substantial power over an array of firm outcomes, the board ultimately delimits CEOs’ managerial discretion and thus influence.”

But there are exceptions to this rule (for example, Appels says, extroverted CEOs tend to be able to wield more influence), so who pulls the strings at the social media giant will depend much on the personality and values of both the new CEO and Musk.

However, as Kate Davis, accredited leadership expert and CEO of the organizational development consultancy Meraki House, points out, no matter how larger than life the new Twitter chief is, chances are that Musk’s presence looms larger. 

“As an INTJ, Musk is a driven visionary, who will keep his analysis and thought processes to himself until he has decided the strategy and then expect others to follow,” Davis says. “He won’t take well to others challenging his authority or his competence, but he will value the concept of ‘winning’ above all else.” 

Really, Musk isn’t any normal low-profile CEO who’s stepping aside.

Crucially, he’s still the social media giant’s owner, he is famously outspoken, and his recent decision to be not only Twitter’s executive chair but also CTO suggests that he wants to continue shaping the brand’s future.

“Despite being the new CEO at Twitter, the buck doesn’t really stop with the new CEO. But it does with Musk,” says Richard Hillgrove, founder of 6Hillgrove PR, who has represented the likes of Charles Saatchi and Dame Vivienne Westwood.

With over 139 million followers on Twitter, he echoes that Musk’s cult of personality and operational style “will deafen any real efforts made by the new CEO the make their own leadership mark.” 

It’s all on Musk

Academics and leadership coaches consistently told Fortune that how much authority the new CEO has really depends on how much authority Musk is willing to give her. 

Hillgrove isn’t optimistic.

“She might tactically be called CEO because Musk promised to step down after losing a Twitter vote, but in reality, she will only ever be the Twitter COO for Musk; at worse, Musk’s executive PA,” he says, while adding that if Musk was serious about “giving a new CEO room to maneuver” he would have left the business entirely. 

Either way, Davis thinks this is a matter for Twitter’s incoming chief to reckon with.

“What will be imperative is that the incoming CEO has full and frank conversations not only with Musk, but also the other key stakeholders, shareholders, and other members of the board to understand what her official remit is, how much autonomy she would take or whether this is an appointment in name only,” she says. 

Each party will have its own take on the matter, but she will need to understand where she truly sits in the pecking order before creating her own strategy. 

If she establishes her authority early on, proves to Musk that her way of working forward will help him ‘win’ and impresses the wider forces at Twitter, Davis thinks the new CEO could have as much authority as any other incoming leader in similar shoes. 

In fact, Musk’s big personality may even work in her favor.

“Musk has famously ignored other voices,” Davis adds. This could be where Twitter’s new chief forges strategic alliances, finds more rounded solutions, and holds a stronger position to stand her ground.

“It’s all about playing for strategic advantage here.”

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Orianna Rosa Royle
By Orianna Rosa RoyleAssociate Editor, Success
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Orianna Rosa Royle is the Success associate editor at Fortune, overseeing careers, leadership, and company culture coverage. She was previously the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running publication for CEOs. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Success

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Success

Older worker sad at laptop
SuccessGen X
A quarter of young baby boomers and Gen Xers who’ve been laid off in the last decade are still unemployed—and 11% have taken pay cuts to work
By Emma BurleighJuly 4, 2026
51 minutes ago
usa
North Americahistory
Before independence, America tried — and failed — to conquer Canada
By Sarah M.S. Pearsall and The ConversationJuly 4, 2026
1 hour ago
The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today
Arts & EntertainmentMusic
The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today
By Ted Olson and The ConversationJuly 4, 2026
1 hour ago
Ejay O'Donnell, Bart Szaniewski, and Grant Eastey wear Dad Gang hats in a factory
SuccessEntrepreneurship
Three dads started selling hats from a garage with $750—now they’ve sold $35 million worth, partnered with Gary Vee, and grown a community of fathers
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
4 hours ago
loco
Travel & LeisureEntrepreneurship
The World Cup is just now discovering Middle America’s big heart. These Irish bingo kingpins built a $24 million business knowing it all along
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 4, 2026
5 hours ago
Elon Musk with a black DOGE hat
SuccessWealth
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
AI
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
Economy
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
Economy
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
By Jim EdwardsJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
7 hours ago
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
Success
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.